Utility gun rack for boats and the like

ABSTRACT

Presented is a utility rack for use by boating enthusiasts, and particularly by hunters and fishermen for temporarily supporting shotguns in a position of disuse but of ready availability while in a boat.

United States Patent Burton 1 1 Oct. 21, 1975 [5 UTILITY GUN RACK FORBOATS AND THE 2,531,550 11/1950 Bradley et a1 211/64 x LIKE 2,555,0735/1951 Zaankoski 43/212 x 2,561,046 7/1951 Brooks [76] In nt r: HenryBurton, 855 Harrigan 2,897,974 8/1959 Cook 248/346 x Road, Fallon, Nev.89406 2,959,295 11/1960 Howard et a1. 211/64 3,497,077 2/1970Sjostrand..... 211/64 [22] 1974 3,767,094 10/1973 Sikes 248/346 x [21]App1.No.: 448,812

Primary Examiner.l. Franklin Foss A t F J L tt [52 U.S. (:1 211/64;248/42 tome Agent J [51] Int. Cl. A47B 81/00; F16M 13/02 [58] Field ofSearch 248/38, 39, 40, 42, 44, [57] ABSTRACT 248/46, 47, 48, 309;211/64, 60 R; Presented is a utility rack for use by boating enthusi-43/211, 26 asts, and particularly by hunters and fishermen fortemporarily supporting shotguns in a position of disuse [56] ReferenceCited but of ready availability while in a boat.

UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 2,341,496 2/1944Zethmayr 248/39.X

US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 UTILITY GUN RACK FOR BOATS AND THE LIKEBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Many hunters hunt ducks and geese fromboats. In such environment, it isa problem to find a place to supportthe gun, even temporarily, while the boat is being rowed or sculled fromone point to another. This is particularly true in sculling in which itis the hunters object to sneak up undetected on a flock of ducks feedingin a pond. To do this, the boat is frequently camouflaged and the hunterlies prone in the boat, manipulating the boat from that position so asto slowly and quietly move up on the ducks resting on the water. Ittherefore becomes an advantage for the hunter to be able to support hisloaded shotgun in a position where he will have ready access to it whenhe sits up to fire at the ducks. Accordingly, one of the objects of thepresent invention is to provide a gun rack for boats that presents a lowprofile and which is effective to support a loaded gun in a boat inposition for quick and convenient use. 7

The duck hunting season in most areas is set to coincide with themigration of these fowl. This migration is caused by the change inseasons, and in most localities unfortunately, the weather during duckhunting season is extremely cold. Nevertheless, the avid duck hunterbundles himself up in thermal underwear, thermal outerwear, mittens andcaps and sets forth in his boat to secure his limit of ducks. Burdenedby so many clothes, it is an advantage if the shotgun and shells for theshotgun are readily accessible to the hunter without the necessity oflaying the gun down in the bottom of the boat, in which position itmight accidently discharge and either kill someone or blow the bottomout of the boat. Accordingly, it is one of the objects of the presentinvention to provide a gun rack for boats which not only supports one ormore shotguns thereon, but which provides means for supporting a largenumber of shotgun shells so that the hunter has ready access to theshells when he starts shooting.

It has been found that when hunters are out in a boat, they frequentlyhave need for hand tools such as an ad justable wrench, a pair ofpliers, cigarettes, cigarette lighter and fluid for their cigarettelighter. Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide agun rack that accommodates all of these miscellaneous tools and itemsthat add to the enjoyment of the hunters hunting trip.

Because weather during duck season is generally cold, anotherindispensable item which is insisted upon by most duck hunters is athermos of coflee or other hot beverage. The problem is that onceserved, in most conventional boats, there is no place to support thecup. Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide a gunrack which will not only support a gun and a large amount of ammunitionfor ready accessibility, but which also provide means for retaining acontainer of hot or cold liquid.

The invention possesses other objects and features of advantage, some ofwhich, with the foregoing, will be apparent from the followingdescription and the drawings. It it is to be understood however that theinvention is not limited to the embodiment illustrated and described,since it may be embodied in various forms within the scope of theappended claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In terms of broad inclusion, the utility rackof the invention comprises an elongated base member having upright endsslotted to receive one or more shotguns lying in a horizontal position.Adjustably mounted on each end is a clamp arm adapted to hook over therail of a boat. A cartridge shelf is mounted above the base member, andmeans are provided in association with the cartridge shelf constitutinga socket into which the butt end of a fishing pole may be inserted.Holders are also provided on the base member for miscellaneous tools,and apertures are provided in the base member to receive containers ofhot or cold beverages.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewillustrating the utility gun rack mounted on the rail of a boat, whichis shown in broken lines.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the utility gun rack.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the utility gun rack taken in theplane indicated by the line 33in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view of the utility gun rack, taken in theplane indicated by the line 4-4 in FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In terms of greater detail, theutility rack of the invention is designated generally by the numeral 2,and is adapted to be detachably clamped onto the rail 3 of a'boat.Structurally, the utility rack comprises a platelike base member 4,conveniently fabricated from a length of suitable lumber or othermaterial, say 2 feet long and 8 inches wide. At each end, the basemember is provided with an upwardly extending end plate 6 suitablysecured to the end portion of the underlying plate by suitable screws(not shown) passing upwardly through the plate. If additionalreinforcement is needed, the end plates 6 may be suitably secured to thesupport plate through use of an appropriate adhesive.

Formed in the top edge 7 of each of the end plates is a pair of notches8, spaced apart and having a depth suitable to receive therein a shotguncradled between the two end plates in corresponding notches. If desired,each of the notches may be lined with felt or other soft material, suchas a layer of polyurethane foam (not shown), to cushion the rifle orshotgun as it lies cradled in the rack.

It is an advantage in hunting ducks or other type fowl over water thatthe cartridges to be used be readily available so that the gun may bequickly re-loaded after being fired. To provide such facility, there isprovided disposed between the end plates 6 and adjacent one long edge ofthe base member 4, an elongated bar 9 having a multiplicity of apertures12 formed therein in a row. The bar 9 is anchored at each end to theassociated end plates 6 in any suitable manner, and is elevated abovethe base plate 4 to provide a space '13 between the underside of the bar9 and the top surface 14 of the base plate. The diameter of theapertures formed in the bar are proportioned to snugly receive the outerperiphery of a cartridge 16 in the manner illustrated in broken lines inFIG. 3.

As indicated, since duck hunting is normally enjoyed in the earlymorning hours when it is cold and frequently wet, it is an advantage tobe able to partake of a hot beverage such as coffee or chocolate whilewaiting for the ducks to arrive overhead. To this end, there is formedin the base plate 4 two apertures 17 and 18, each having a diametersufficient to receive therewithin the outer periphery of a cup withinwhich may be served a hot beverage. As seen in FIG. 3, the height of theshotguns when nestled in the notches 8 formed in the end plates is suchthat the gun need not be disturbed when moving the cup from theaperture. Additionally, the depth of the notches is such as to retainthe gun without danger of its being inadvertently disloged.

To accommodate the other miscellaneous tools that are frequently usefulwhen hunting, such as pliers, screwdrivers, cigarettes and cigarettelighters, the top surface 14 of the base plate 4 is provided with alarge centrally disposed receptacle 19 disposed to one side of the bar 9so that access may be had to the receptacle, the receptacle being formedby appropriate rail members 21 arranged in a rectangular pattern on thetop surface 14 of the base plate. Two additional receptacles 22 areformed adjacent the end plates 6 by rail members 23 also secured to thetop surface 14 of the base plate.

The rack so formed, is provided at each end with a clamp memberdesignated generally by the numeral 24, and at each end comprising arail member 26 having an elongated slot 27 therein, one end of the railbeing provided with a downwardly extending flange 28 adapted to lockbehind the rail 3 of the boat that is interposed between the flange andthe associated longitudinal edge 29 of the base plate. The clamp rail 26is adjustably secured to the associated end plate 6 by a pair of bolts31 which extend through appropriate apertures in the associated endplate and engage the elongated slot 27. All that is required to mountthe utility rack to the rail of a boat, for instance, is that the boltsbe loosened sufficiently to move the clamp rail 26 at each end relativeto the associated edge 29 of the base plate so that the flange 28 may beclamped over the associated boat rail. The bolts are then tightened tolock the utility rack securely to the boat rail.

Since a great deal of time is frequently spent merely waiting for theducks to fly over, it is an advantage if the utility rack is providedwith means by which a fishing pole may be supported thereon in a mannerthat will not require the constant attention of the hunter. To this end,there is provided in conjunction with the utility rack, a socket 32comprising an elongated hollow member into which the butt end of afishing pole 33 may be inserted. The socket member 32 is pivotallymounted on a stub shaft 34 the diameter of which is proportioned to besnugly received within one of the apertures 12. Thus, as shown in FIG.1, the socket may be placed in any one of the apertures and pivoted tothe left or to the right to accommodate the whims of thehunterturned-fisherman. The socket may be easily lifted from theaperture for storage or for insertion of a cartridge in the particularaperture in which the fishing rod socket was initially mounted.

In recent years, much legislation has been passed relating to thecontrol of guns. Of particular importance with respect to the subjectinvention is the fact that in many states a hunter is prohibited fromcarrying a loaded shotgun within the cab of a pickup truck, forinstance, or within an automobile. Nevertheless, when hunting for wildfowl, it frequently happens that game birds are seen while driving downthe highway. It would be an advantage therefore to be able to carry aloaded gun while eliminating the possibility of injury throughinadvertent discharge of the gun. Thus, to adapt the utility rack of theinstant invention to being supported within the box of a pickup truck,for instance, there is provided to the underside of the base plate 4, aplurality of suction members 36 which become operative when the clamprail 26 is removed from each end. With the clamp rails removed, theutility gun rack may be securely fastened to the bed of the truck so asto contain the guns, even in loaded condition, outside the cab of thepickup truck and readily accessible to the hunter if he happens to seegame birds while traveling down the highway. To further insure againstinadvertent dislogement of the gun or guns while contained within therack, an elastic strap 37 may be attached by one end to one longitudinaledge of the base plate and stretched over the guns and hooked to thebase plate adjacent the opposite long edge of the base plate. Such ahold-down strap may be quickly and easily released when it is desired tolift one of the guns from the rack.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed to be novel andsought to be protected by letters patent is as follows:

1. A utility gun rack adapted to be mounted on the rail of a boat,comprising:

a. an elongated plate-like base member;

b. end plates mounted adjacent opposite ends of the base member andprojecting in a direction away from the rail on which the rack ismounted and having notches within and between which a gun may becradled;

c. clamp means mounted adjacent each end of the base member andoperatively adjustable to secure the utility gun rack to a boat rail onone side of the boat; and

(1. means disposed above said base member a predetermined distance lessthan the length of a cartridge and adapted to hold a multiplicity ofcartridges in a position for ready accessibility.

2. The combination according to claim 1, in which said clamp means isadjustable so as to securely clamp the boat rail between the clamp meansand said base member.

3. The combination according to claim 1, in which socket means areprovided on said means for holding cartridges and constituting a holderfor a fishing pole.

4. The combination according to claim 1, in which aperture means areprovided in said base member adapted to receive a beverage container.

5. The combination according to claim 1, in which compartment means areprovided on said base member for receiving miscellaneous tools useful tothe hunter while confined in a boat.

1. A utility gun rack adapted to be mounted on the rail of a boat,comprising: a. an elongated plate-like base member; b. end platesmounted adjacent opposite ends of the base member and projecting in adirection away from the rail on which the rack is mounted and havingnotches within and between which a gun may be cradled; c. clamp meansmounted adjacent each end of the base member and operatively adjustableto secure the utility gun rack to a boat rail on one side of the boat;and d. means disposed above said base member a predetermined distanceless than the length of a cartridge and adapted to hold a multiplicityof cartridges in a position for ready accessibility.
 2. The combinationaccording to claim 1, in which said clamp means is adjustable so as tosecurely clamp the boat rail between the clamp means and said basemember.
 3. The combination according to claim 1, in which socket meansare provided on said means for holding cartridges and constituting aholder for a fishing pole.
 4. The combination according to claim 1, inwhich aperture means are provided in said base member adapted to receivea beverage container.
 5. The combination according to claim 1, in whichcompartment means are provided on said base member for receivingmiscellaneous tools useful to the hunter while confined in a boat.